Navigating Cultures: A Practical Guide to the Global Workplace

Cultures - Just as fish do not think about water, we humans rarely think about our own culture (unless you happen to be an anthropologist). Fish do not realize just how pervasive water is to their existence until they are removed from it. Then, the absence of water becomes painfully obvious. Likewise, we don’t realize how pervasive our culture is until we’ve been taken out of it and put into another culture. Culture is the operating system running our life. Culture colors the way we see the world. Culture is like a tree with deep roots. Yet, most of culture is hidden below the surface.

Michael W. Beard is a co-founder of Simple Group Co., Vietnam. He holds a Masters Degree in Intercultural Studies from Grace College and has worked cross culturally in Central Asia and Southeast Asia for almost 20 years. His professional experience includes education, small business development and entrepreneurship. Michael has four TCKs (third culture kids) who have been raised in Asia. His wife, Michelle, is a primary school teacher at an international school in Hanoi. They have been married for 27+ years. Michael considers himself a global nomad exploring business, culture, faith and community transformation. Jason Borges works as a cultural trainer for an American nonprofit organization. He holds a Masters Degree in Intercultural Studies from Biola University and has lived in Central Asia for 10 years. His professional experience includes financial services, micro-enterprise development, and community development. Jason and his wife have 3 daughters.